What to do in Oakland?

I won a trip to Oakland from Sept.1-5 to see Destiny%26#39;s Child on the 3rd. We%26#39;ll have a couple of days to check out the area. What do you recommend we do? Are there a lot of nice restaurants and clubs in Oakland? How long will it take to get to San Francisco? I appreciate any recommendations and advice. Thanks!

What to do in Oakland?

First, Oakland has BART - Bay Area Rapid Transit - so its very easy to get to many places in the area, including San Francisco, Berkeley, and other places. There are also Napa wine tours you can take. So lots of options.

http://www.bart.gov/index.asp

In regards to Oakland itself, a nice area to visit is Jack London Square. You can take a ferry from Jack London Square to San Francisco also. There was a recent post on several good restaurants to enjoy in that area - I like to go there to and for seafood/bar I like Kincaids - others have different favors, so you will have a good time in this area.

http://www.jacklondonsquare.com/

If you like baseball Oakland A%26#39;s are playing Yankees that week-end: …mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/index.jsp…

If you like ice cream and have a car, Fenton%26#39;s is a must when in town. Absolutely great ice cream. http://www.fentonscreamery.com/

The Greek Theater in Berkeley is having some shows while you are in town.

In addition, you might want to check out Emeryville area.

There is a very good food court here, shopping, and other things to do, and a jazz club

http://www.ci.emeryville.ca.us/guide/

For San Francisco, you might want to check out:

http://www.sfguide.com/nightlife.htm

for possible things you%26#39;d like to do at night.

You%26#39;ll have lots of fun.....and congrats on the tickets and enjoy the show. If you have special interets, do highlight, as there is lots to do in the area, and that can help point you to the best.

Enjoy

What to do in Oakland?

Well, Jil, you%26#39;re right up my alley (or neighborhood, so to speak!)

Along with mini%26#39;s suggestions (and I agree w/ Jack london Sqaure/ Kincaids/ also check out Hahn%26#39;s Hibachi for great Korean BBQ and Jack%26#39;s Bistro), we have lots of fantastic restuarants in all kinds of interesting neighborhoods. Since Fentons is a must-do, you could also eat at Baywolf on the same street for dinner (just leave room for that Fenton%26#39;s dessert!)... that%26#39;s just for starters.

But most importantly, since you are here over Labor Day weekend, you MUST check out Art and Soul- a music and srt and food festival in downtown Oakland that%26#39;s going on the 3rd, 4th and 5th. There%26#39;s lot of great music- I know Blue%26#39;s Traveller is one of their headliners, as is Amy Mann- but here are many stages with many different types of music, including jazz, blues, latin and rock. I think the entrance is only $5. artandsouloakland.com is their website. I g oevery year- you%26#39;ve got to check it out!

Wher will you be staying? I can give you more info on how to get to SF and restaurants to check out depending upon your neighborhood...

It ain%26#39;t San Franicsco, but you might also want to check out Berkeley. It%26#39;s a short hop north on BART. You can walk around the campus, take the elevator up to the Campanile. Really great restaurants include Chez Panisse of Alice Waters fame; good but less wow is Downtown (that%26#39;s the name of the restaurant). There are clubs in Oakland, but I admit I haven%26#39;t been out clubbing in a while.

Concentrate on San Francisco. It has so much to offer and is so close and easily accessible by BART. I used to live in Oakland. While the folks on this board have given you good advice, I think your time will be best spent across the bay in The City. Have a great trip!

Oakland is nice in many ways. I was there in July and really enjoyed my stay. It is a contrast to San Francisco- they cannot be compared to one another. Both are worth seeing and from Oakland it is an easy ferry or BART train direct into San Francisco. I perferred Oakland for its hotels (spacious and less expensive) little or no traffic jams, the scenic green hills. If interested in theatre I saw a great show in Oakland by the Woodminster Theatre group --www.woodminster.com

also there outdoor stage in Joaquin Miller Park is a real gem go there otherwise if your not a theatre person for some real great views, and beautiful woods and gardens and walking about.

Getting to the concert via BART is an easy one too.

San Francisco is one of the top worldwide tourist destinations, Oakland is not, and there are many, many reasons why.

Finn, thanks for giving my city it%26#39;s props! You were very clever to find Woodminster- they only perform June through Sept. but it%26#39;s a wonderful way to spend an evening! You can picnic putside and watch the sunset, then get some good theater!

Jils, of course, I would recommend you take BART or the ferry into SF (again depending upon where you%26#39;re staying) for some sightseeing. But we have plenty to offer here too, especially since you%26#39;ll be here during the Art and Soul Festival.

Oh, and another suggestion- perhaps the best jazz club on the west coast is Yoshi%26#39;s in Jack London Square- it%26#39;s world renowned, and they also have a wonderful Japanese restaurant and a bar. See if there%26#39;s anyone performing there that tweaks your interest: yoshis.com

Congrats on those Destiny%26#39;s CHild tickets!

We still don%26#39;t know where we%26#39;re staying. Hopefully we%26#39;ll find out in a couple of days and I%26#39;ll let you know. Thanks to all of you for your wonderful advice. I really appreciate it. I%26#39;m looking forward to my trip!

Hope it all helps!

I just remembered another resource for you- the Oakland CVB has started a new campaign with the website; meetdowntownoak.com, where they have a list of all the restaurants, activities, museums, etc. in downtown Oakland. There%26#39;s some good suggestions there for things do do before or after your Sf sightseeing.

Props to Oaktown, my former city, too. MacJack%26#39;s right on with the Art and Soul festival, and Yoshi%26#39;s at Jack London Square. Just this past year, the mayor of SF had a big press conference to announce they%26#39;d convinced Yoshi%26#39;s to open up a San Francisco branch -- lured them into it -- in the Fillmore. You%26#39;ve got enough time to enjoy both cities.

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